Reforming Juvenile Justice

Reforming Juvenile Justice
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 463
Release: 2013-05-22
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0309278937

Adolescence is a distinct, yet transient, period of development between childhood and adulthood characterized by increased experimentation and risk-taking, a tendency to discount long-term consequences, and heightened sensitivity to peers and other social influences. A key function of adolescence is developing an integrated sense of self, including individualization, separation from parents, and personal identity. Experimentation and novelty-seeking behavior, such as alcohol and drug use, unsafe sex, and reckless driving, are thought to serve a number of adaptive functions despite their risks. Research indicates that for most youth, the period of risky experimentation does not extend beyond adolescence, ceasing as identity becomes settled with maturity. Much adolescent involvement in criminal activity is part of the normal developmental process of identity formation and most adolescents will mature out of these tendencies. Evidence of significant changes in brain structure and function during adolescence strongly suggests that these cognitive tendencies characteristic of adolescents are associated with biological immaturity of the brain and with an imbalance among developing brain systems. This imbalance model implies dual systems: one involved in cognitive and behavioral control and one involved in socio-emotional processes. Accordingly adolescents lack mature capacity for self-regulations because the brain system that influences pleasure-seeking and emotional reactivity develops more rapidly than the brain system that supports self-control. This knowledge of adolescent development has underscored important differences between adults and adolescents with direct bearing on the design and operation of the justice system, raising doubts about the core assumptions driving the criminalization of juvenile justice policy in the late decades of the 20th century. It was in this context that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) asked the National Research Council to convene a committee to conduct a study of juvenile justice reform. The goal of Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approach was to review recent advances in behavioral and neuroscience research and draw out the implications of this knowledge for juvenile justice reform, to assess the new generation of reform activities occurring in the United States, and to assess the performance of OJJDP in carrying out its statutory mission as well as its potential role in supporting scientifically based reform efforts.

Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice

Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 405
Release: 2001-06-05
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0309172357

Even though youth crime rates have fallen since the mid-1990s, public fear and political rhetoric over the issue have heightened. The Columbine shootings and other sensational incidents add to the furor. Often overlooked are the underlying problems of child poverty, social disadvantage, and the pitfalls inherent to adolescent decisionmaking that contribute to youth crime. From a policy standpoint, adolescent offenders are caught in the crossfire between nurturance of youth and punishment of criminals, between rehabilitation and "get tough" pronouncements. In the midst of this emotional debate, the National Research Council's Panel on Juvenile Crime steps forward with an authoritative review of the best available data and analysis. Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice presents recommendations for addressing the many aspects of America's youth crime problem. This timely release discusses patterns and trends in crimes by children and adolescentsâ€"trends revealed by arrest data, victim reports, and other sources; youth crime within general crime; and race and sex disparities. The book explores desistanceâ€"the probability that delinquency or criminal activities decrease with ageâ€"and evaluates different approaches to predicting future crime rates. Why do young people turn to delinquency? Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice presents what we know and what we urgently need to find out about contributing factors, ranging from prenatal care, differences in temperament, and family influences to the role of peer relationships, the impact of the school policies toward delinquency, and the broader influences of the neighborhood and community. Equally important, this book examines a range of solutions: Prevention and intervention efforts directed to individuals, peer groups, and families, as well as day care-, school- and community-based initiatives. Intervention within the juvenile justice system. Role of the police. Processing and detention of youth offenders. Transferring youths to the adult judicial system. Residential placement of juveniles. The book includes background on the American juvenile court system, useful comparisons with the juvenile justice systems of other nations, and other important information for assessing this problem.

New Possibilities for Juvenile Justice

New Possibilities for Juvenile Justice
Author: Willie James Webb
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2013-10-21
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1491824875

This book has three enlightening sections regarding juvenile recidivism, administrative services and treatment methodologies. The first section is based on research, studies and analyses of the social characteristics of 40 randomly selected juvenile recidivists referred to the juvenile court over a ten year period. This study explores and analyzes the respective families, neighborhoods, schools, grade levels, religious affiliation, socio-economic status, mental health and the types and numbers of legal offenses that were committed by the repeat offenders. This study establishes a pattern and identifying social factors relating to causal factors contributing to their repetitious offensive acts and violations of the law. There are clearly predictive factors for juvenile repeat offenders that can be used to predict, control, prevent, control and reduce significantly, juvenile offenses and recidivism. The second section of this book explores essentials for effective administration for juvenile courts and other social service agencies in the community. All agencies, and especially human service agencies must be administratively and operationally healthy. They must not contribute to the demoralization of the staff who already face low morale challenges in treating and serving clients who are associated with substantial depressive pathologies. Specific personnel standards, policies and procedures are vital to optimize the effectiveness of the service providing staff. There are certain training essentials and requirements that center around competence, morality, professionalism and ethical standards that must be enforced in order to maintain an efficient, functional, healthy and safe work environment. If the service providing staff are not trained and treated well, it is doubtful that they can serve and treat their clients well. Treatment providers must be protected from administrative persecution and incompetence, especially when they have the responsibility to protect and restore their clients to health and stability. Intimidating, threatening and unsafe work environments retards and inhabits productivity. The third section of New Possibilities for Juvenile Justice enumerates a comprehensive list of factors associated with youth problems, failures in school, delinquent acts and law violations. The list is based on seasoned, experienced and knowledgeable probation officers with decades of training and experience. Also, the third section of this book provides an exploration and understanding of the ongoing cultural crisis and the serious adverse impact this crisis is having on America, its people and institutions. The social problems, reinforced by new ideologies and technology appear to be increasing more rapidly than answers and solutions to solve them. Transforming American youth into positive, law abiding, healthy and productive citizens is possible if the responsible, patriotic and enlightened leader- ship will utilize the artistic, scientific, ethical and transforming knowledge that is available. The information contained in this volume can be a significant beginning in that process of directions for youth transformation.l

The War on Kids

The War on Kids
Author: Cara H. Drinan
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2018
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0190605553

Despite inventing the juvenile court a little more than a century ago, the United States has become an international outlier in its juvenile sentencing practices. The War on Kids explains how that happened and how policymakers can correct the course of juvenile justice today.

Juvenile Justice

Juvenile Justice
Author: John T. Whitehead
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 515
Release: 2015-02-20
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1317534581

Juvenile Justice: An Introduction, 8th edition, presents a comprehensive picture of juvenile offending, delinquency theories, and how juvenile justice actors and agencies react to delinquency. It covers the history and development of the juvenile justice system and the unique issues related to juveniles, offering evidence-based suggestions for successful interventions and treatment and examining the new balance model of juvenile court. This new edition not only includes the latest available statistics on juvenile crime and victimization, drug use, court processing, and corrections, but provides insightful analysis of recent developments, such as those related to the use of probation supervision fees; responses to gangs and cyber bullying; implementing the deterrence model (Project Hope); the possible impact of drug legalization; the school-to-prison pipeline; the extent of victimization and mental illness in institutions; and implications of major court decisions regarding juveniles, such as Life Without Parole (LWOP) for juveniles. Each chapter enhances student understanding with Key Terms, a "What You Need to Know" section highlighting important points, and Discussion Questions. Links at key points in the text show students where they can go to get the latest information, and a comprehensive glossary aids comprehension.

Juvenile in Justice

Juvenile in Justice
Author: Richard Ross
Publisher: Self Publisher
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2012
Genre: Documentary photography
ISBN: 9780985510602

photographs by Richard Ross of juveniles in detention, commitment and treatment across the US.

Taking Juvenile Justice Seriously

Taking Juvenile Justice Seriously
Author: Christopher J. Sullivan
Publisher: Temple University Press
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2019-10-01
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1439915792

The juvenile justice system navigates a high degree of variation in youthful offenders. While professionals with insights about reform and adolescent development consider the risks, the needs, and the patterns of delinquency of youth, too little attention is paid to the responses and practicalities of a system that is both complex and limited in its resources. In his essential book, Taking Juvenile Justice Seriously, Christopher Sullivan systematically analyzes key facets of justice-involved youth populations and parses cases to better understand core developmental influences that affect delinquency. He takes a comprehensive look at aspects of the life-course affected by juvenile justice as well as at the juvenile justice system’s operations and its multifaceted mission of delivering both treatment and sanctions to a varied population of youths. Taking Juvenile Justice Seriously first provides an overview of the youth who encounter the system, then describes its present operations and obstacles, synthesizes relevant developmental insights, and reviews current practices. Drawing on research, theory, and evidence regarding innovative policies, Sullivan offers a series of well-grounded recommendations that suggest how to potentially—and realistically—implement a more effective juvenile justice system that would benefit all.

Restorative Justice for Juveniles

Restorative Justice for Juveniles
Author: Lode Walgrave
Publisher: Leuven University Press
Total Pages: 412
Release: 1998
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9789061869207

A selection of papers presented at the international conference, Leuven, May 12-14, 1997.

Juvenile Justice

Juvenile Justice
Author: Francine Sherman
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 608
Release: 2011-10-04
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0470497041

"The lessons in this book remind us that we can and that we must do better, for the sake of our children, their futures, and the sake of our nation. . . . This volume is a call to action, and I encourage everyone who reads it to take steps to ensure that all America's children are given an equal chance to succeed. We must all work together to replace the cradle-to-prison pipeline with a pipeline to responsible, productive adulthood." From the Foreword by Marian Wright Edelman, JD, President and founder, Children's Defense Fund, Washington, DC "Juvenile Justice: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice appears at a critical time, when promising juvenile justice reforms are underway in so many jurisdictions across the United States. Sherman and Jacobs, and their impressive array of expert authors, fill a significant gap in the literature, making the current body of juvenile justice research and experience accessible to policy makers, researchers, and funders, and doing so through a practical and positive lens." Patrick McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD "Most people have narrow views of what it means to be a delinquent youth. In Juvenile Justice: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice, Sherman and Jacobs have diligently collected essays from the top experts in the juvenile justice field who tell an empirically based and powerful narrative of who is really in the delinquency system. As this book makes clear, until we ask and answer the right questions, we will remain unable to help the youth most in need." Alexander Busansky, President, The National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Oakland, CA A comprehensive reference presenting a rehabilitative, youth- and community-centered vision of juvenile justice Juvenile Justice: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice brings together experts in juvenile justice, child development, and public health to explore the intersections between juvenile justice and needed development of programs and policies that look out for the health and well-being of the youth who enter this system. This timely book provides a usable framework for imagining juvenile justice systems that emphasize the welfare of juveniles, achieved primarily through connections within their communities. A must-read for professionals working in juvenile courts and within juvenile justice agencies, Juvenile Justice: Advancing Research, Policy, and Practice reflects both the considerable advances and the challenges currently evident in the juvenile justice system, with an emphasis on the development and implementation of policies that can succeed in building a new generation of educated young people able to embrace their potential and build successful futures.

Delays in Youth Justice

Delays in Youth Justice
Author: Jeffrey A. Butts
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2010-08
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1437929729

Contents: (1) Introduction: Time and Adolescence; Policy and Practice; (2) The History of Court Delay; (3) The Causes and Effects of Delayed Justice; (4) Controlling Court Delay: Legal/Professional Efforts; Managerial Efforts; (5) Controlling Juvenile Court Delay: Constitutional Provisions; Limiting Due Process for Juveniles; Legislation and Rules in the Juvenile Court; (6) Recent Trends in Delinquency Case Processing Time; (7) Delay Reduction Efforts in Three Juvenile Courts; (8) Conclusions; (9) References; Cases Cited; (10) Appendices. Charts and tables.